Watrix

The Watrix is an electric personal watercraft that also doubles as a hydrofoil. It uses solar power to recharge its ion-lithium batteries, and its body is made of Kevlar fibre.

The background

One of my first watercraft concepts was the Idrobyk (Published in April 2013). It was a mix of Hydrofoil and PWC, just like the Watrix, but it had a different ergonomic and mechanical layout. Since then, I have gotten feedback from a few knowledgeable people, and I decided to push forward the idea of a smaller, quieter, and greener all-electric model. The Watrix’s shape resembles that of a Kayak; it’s long and narrow to reduce friction on the water. A special super-hydrophobic coating is applied to help the vehicle slide faster when it’s riding at low speed. I want the vehicle to last for a long time, so it will be made of strong and durable Kevlar fibre, which has five times the strength of steel based on an equal weight basis.

A 15 kW electric motor will power a propeller or water turbine located at the base of the rear strut. Ion-lithium batteries located inside the vehicle will supply the energy needed for the propeller and other electrical equipment. The battery pack could also be cooled by the water coming from the lake or sea. The Watrix will be equipped with an onboard charger so you can charge it at your dock with an AC cord. As an option, a flexible solar panel kit could be fixed on the deck of the Watrix. These panels would feature a butterfly wings system to double their surface and capture more sun.The hydrofoil system will work similarly to the Aquari concept. The pilot will raise the front underwater wing located on the front strut to raise the craft above the water. Turning will be done by orienting the water flow exiting the water nozzle and slightly shifting your body weight.

What it’s used for

The Watrix is a quiet personal watercraft. It does not emit any CO2, and it uses the sun to recharge its batteries. It is built with strong and lasting materials, so you can keep it in the family for a very long time. There is a demand for such futuristic vehicles. Of course, like any project, this one will need to be developed to meet the requirements of its users. I am interested in building a prototype of the Watrix.

The designer

The Watrix renderings were produced by Jan Metelka, who is located in the Czech Republic. Jan studied at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague. He has also created the images for the Odyssée concept.